Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

"Upon review of the findings and recommendations of the hearing committee and disciplinary board, and considering the record, briefs and oral argument, it is ordered that Arthur Gilmore Jr., Louisiana Bar Roll number 1059, be and he hereby is disbarred, retroactive to June 9, 2013, the date of his most recent interim suspension. Respondent shall also be given credit for the time he served on interim suspension during the period of June 19, 2011, to September 21, 2011, and during the period of May 2, 2012, to April 3, 2013. Respondent’s name shall be stricken from the roll of attorneys and his license to practice law in the state of Louisiana shall be revoked."

Gilmore was convicted of violations of the Racketeering and Corrupt Influences Act. Gilmore and Robert "Red" Stevens, another former Monroe city councilman, were accused of accepting bribe payments from an FBI-cooperating witness in exchange for help with matters pending before the City Council in 2008 and 2009.

The pair were convicted in May 2011 of bribery and extortion but received a new trial.

Gilmore was found guilty after a four-day trial in May 2013 and served a 24-month sentence at the Federal Prison Camp in South Dakota.

Stevens pleaded guilty in May 2013 to accepting cash bribe payments. Because he made the plea agreement with the federal government, the extortion charge was dropped. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison.

The Office of Disciplinary Council filed formal charges against Gilmore on July 29, 2015.

Information from the Supreme Court shows that Gilmore, through counsel, responded on Sept. 30, 2015, admitting the conviction "essentially admitting to his misconduct and asking for a sanction 'other than disbarment.' In mitigation, respondent offered that his conviction was based on only two violations, those being a $1,000 campaign contribution and a $207 payment for a constituent’s electric bill."

Hearing Committee Number 35 considered the matter on Dec. 9. U.S. Judge Robert C. Johnson, Valerie Rowley, Ellen Hill, Mayor Jamie Mayo, David Creed, the Rev. James Earl Jackson Jr., Ibra January and Gilmore testified. ODC and Gilmore agreed on what the testimony of Rebecca Benjamin, Regina Gaines, Verberlyn Washington and Tom Atteberry would be if they were called as witnesses.

On Jan. 27, the committee issued its report and found that Gilmore should be disbarred, which is the baseline sanction in such a case.

In its report, the committee noted: "The live testimony was compelling to the committee in that Respondent's witnesses all believed that he had been punished enough and that if he were disbarred and prevented from ever practicing law again would be exceedingly severe and that permanent disbarment should be reserved for a more egregious offense."

ODC filed an objection to the leniency of the sanction and argued that permanent disbarment was warranted. ODC filed a brief on the matter March 9. Gilmore filed a brief March 21, arguing that a lesser penalty from the baseline sanction of disbarment was warranted.

Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board Panel "C" heard oral argument on the matter April 7. In its report, the board noted that Gilmore expressed remorse for his actions but found that permanent disbarment was the appropriate sanction.